Summer League keeps jumpers sharp

Jesse Longmire ran the basketball floor with some of his Burke Catholic teammates on Wednesday night at SUNY Orange, but some of his most important work took place on the sidelines.

Ken McMillan

Jesse Longmire ran the basketball floor with some of his Burke Catholic teammates on Wednesday night at SUNY Orange, but some of his most important work took place on the sidelines.

While a second unit of Burke players participated in the Orange Summer League, Longmire took time to answer questions from some of his younger teammates about what kind of defense they were playing.

"I talked to them and helped them out when they got into the game,'' Longmire said.

That was an important first step in establishing his leadership of the next Burke varsity team after the Eagles lost three starters and three reserves to graduation.

"I am going to be the guy that all the younger guys look up, and I am going to mentor the young guys,'' Longmire said.

Developing the future and getting a start on the next season are the prime benefits of the summer league. The boys play tripleheaders starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and the girls do the same on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two courts are reserved for varsity action and one for junior varsity. The summer league started on Monday and runs through Aug. 3, with playoffs set for Aug. 6, 8 and 10 for the boys. Admission is free, with ample seating.

"This is great,'' said Burke varsity assistant coach John Kelly. "You get to keep your team together, and you do some of the things you do in the season. It's a good carry-over to the time when they get back in the fall.''

Bruce Chapin has developed youth players in the Montgomery area and he's coaching the Valley Central summer team.

"The immediate benefit is you get to play all of your players,'' Chapin said. "Those kids who have been sitting on the bench during regular varsity games get an opportunity to play and get significant minutes.''

Port Jervis varsity coach Brian Rollman said the summer league is a great opportunity for younger players coming up from junior varsity and freshman teams to get accustomed to varsity play.

"It allows your young guys to get some more experience against varsity players,'' Rollman said. "It allows your jayvee players to get used to varsity play. The speed of the game is much faster, maybe a half-second faster. The physicality of the game (is stronger).''

As a varsity coach, Rollman can evaluate his talent months ahead of the winter season, and experiment with lineups and new roles.

"It puts players in positions to see what works and what doesn't work,'' Rollman said.

Port Jervis player Zach Reichert is participating in his fourth Orange summer league.

"It gets you ready for the season,'' Reichert said. "It helps you review your plays. It helps with your chemistry. You know what your teammates are thinking and what they're about to do so it helps you react and make the right moves.''

Recihert said he works on whatever Rollman asks of him whenever he takes to a court, whether it be in a summer league or playground, but this helps him feel more comfortable with his teammates.

"Being (a Class) A school,'' Rollman said, "we will play the Double-As once a year, so just to be able to see them is always a big opportunity. ... It gives us an opportunity to see what's going on at the other schools and see what talent is in the area.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Jesse Longmire ran the basketball floor with some of his Burke Catholic teammates on Wednesday night at SUNY Orange, but some of his most important work took place on the sidelines.

While a second unit of Burke players participated in the Orange Summer League, Longmire took time to answer questions from some of his younger teammates about what kind of defense they were playing.

"I talked to them and helped them out when they got into the game,'' Longmire said.

That was an important first step in establishing his leadership of the next Burke varsity team after the Eagles lost three starters and three reserves to graduation.

"I am going to be the guy that all the younger guys look up, and I am going to mentor the young guys,'' Longmire said.

Developing the future and getting a start on the next season are the prime benefits of the summer league. The boys play tripleheaders starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and the girls do the same on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two courts are reserved for varsity action and one for junior varsity. The summer league started on Monday and runs through Aug. 3, with playoffs set for Aug. 6, 8 and 10 for the boys. Admission is free, with ample seating.

"This is great,'' said Burke varsity assistant coach John Kelly. "You get to keep your team together, and you do some of the things you do in the season. It's a good carry-over to the time when they get back in the fall.''

Bruce Chapin has developed youth players in the Montgomery area and he's coaching the Valley Central summer team.

"The immediate benefit is you get to play all of your players,'' Chapin said. "Those kids who have been sitting on the bench during regular varsity games get an opportunity to play and get significant minutes.''

Port Jervis varsity coach Brian Rollman said the summer league is a great opportunity for younger players coming up from junior varsity and freshman teams to get accustomed to varsity play.

"It allows your young guys to get some more experience against varsity players,'' Rollman said. "It allows your jayvee players to get used to varsity play. The speed of the game is much faster, maybe a half-second faster. The physicality of the game (is stronger).''

As a varsity coach, Rollman can evaluate his talent months ahead of the winter season, and experiment with lineups and new roles.

"It puts players in positions to see what works and what doesn't work,'' Rollman said.

Port Jervis player Zach Reichert is participating in his fourth Orange summer league.

"It gets you ready for the season,'' Reichert said. "It helps you review your plays. It helps with your chemistry. You know what your teammates are thinking and what they're about to do so it helps you react and make the right moves.''

Recihert said he works on whatever Rollman asks of him whenever he takes to a court, whether it be in a summer league or playground, but this helps him feel more comfortable with his teammates.

"Being (a Class) A school,'' Rollman said, "we will play the Double-As once a year, so just to be able to see them is always a big opportunity. ... It gives us an opportunity to see what's going on at the other schools and see what talent is in the area.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Jesse Longmire ran the basketball floor with some of his Burke Catholic teammates on Wednesday night at SUNY Orange, but some of his most important work took place on the sidelines.

While a second unit of Burke players participated in the Orange Summer League, Longmire took time to answer questions from some of his younger teammates about what kind of defense they were playing.

"I talked to them and helped them out when they got into the game,'' Longmire said.

That was an important first step in establishing his leadership of the next Burke varsity team after the Eagles lost three starters and three reserves to graduation.

"I am going to be the guy that all the younger guys look up, and I am going to mentor the young guys,'' Longmire said.

Developing the future and getting a start on the next season are the prime benefits of the summer league. The boys play tripleheaders starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and the girls do the same on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two courts are reserved for varsity action and one for junior varsity. The summer league started on Monday and runs through Aug. 3, with playoffs set for Aug. 6, 8 and 10 for the boys. Admission is free, with ample seating.

"This is great,'' said Burke varsity assistant coach John Kelly. "You get to keep your team together, and you do some of the things you do in the season. It's a good carry-over to the time when they get back in the fall.''

Bruce Chapin has developed youth players in the Montgomery area and he's coaching the Valley Central summer team.

"The immediate benefit is you get to play all of your players,'' Chapin said. "Those kids who have been sitting on the bench during regular varsity games get an opportunity to play and get significant minutes.''

Port Jervis varsity coach Brian Rollman said the summer league is a great opportunity for younger players coming up from junior varsity and freshman teams to get accustomed to varsity play.

"It allows your young guys to get some more experience against varsity players,'' Rollman said. "It allows your jayvee players to get used to varsity play. The speed of the game is much faster, maybe a half-second faster. The physicality of the game (is stronger).''

As a varsity coach, Rollman can evaluate his talent months ahead of the winter season, and experiment with lineups and new roles.

"It puts players in positions to see what works and what doesn't work,'' Rollman said.

Port Jervis player Zach Reichert is participating in his fourth Orange summer league.

"It gets you ready for the season,'' Reichert said. "It helps you review your plays. It helps with your chemistry. You know what your teammates are thinking and what they're about to do so it helps you react and make the right moves.''

Recihert said he works on whatever Rollman asks of him whenever he takes to a court, whether it be in a summer league or playground, but this helps him feel more comfortable with his teammates.

"Being (a Class) A school,'' Rollman said, "we will play the Double-As once a year, so just to be able to see them is always a big opportunity. ... It gives us an opportunity to see what's going on at the other schools and see what talent is in the area.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.